Device for operating shutters for elevator-shafts



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9 H. 1). RANLETT 8: G. PRO VOST.

DEVICE FOR OPERATING SHUTTERS FOR ELEVATORSHAFTS.

No. 439,823. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE D. RANLETT AND ,GUSTAVE PROVOST, OF SAN FRANCISCO,

CALIFORNIA.

DEVICE FOR OPERATING SHUTTERS FOR ELEVATOR-SHAFTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,823, dated November 4, 1890.

Application filed March 3, 1890.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HORACE D. RANLETT and GUSTAVE PROVOST, both citizens of the United States, and residents of the city and county of San Francisco, in the Stateof California, have invented certain new and useful Automatic Shutters for Elevator-Shafts; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the iuven tion, which will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of our invention is to prevent" fire from spreading in case of a conflagration from one floor of a building to the others through the elevator-shafts.

Our invention therefore relates to means for rendering edifices fire-proof; and it consists of a series of incombustible floors or shutters arranged across the elevator-well at the several landings. Levers acted upon by the elevator-cage cause these floors to recede at its approach, so as to afford it a free passage; but they are brought back into place immediately thereafter by means of a return mechanism. The working of the shutters may also be effected by the cage itself, independently of the levers, as will be more fully eX- plained farther on.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, Figure 1 is a broken sectional elevation of an elevator shaft and cage, showing one of our shutters closed and another open; and Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.

Similar letters'of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

Let A represent an ordinary elevator-shaft, such as is used for the running of passengerelevators. Into the sides of this shaft are formed apertures aa, through which shutters or floors B B are adapted to slide back and forth. We place two of these shutters at every landing and provide 'them with rollers 12 in order that they may move smoothly on their bearings. The whole of the shutters are arranged to usually lie across the well A in the same position as that occupied by the shutters B in Figs. 1 and 2, they all meeting in the center of the shaft, one on each side of Serial a. 342,446. (No model.)

the hoisting-rope O. Thus the floors of a building are made practically continuous, and being shut at various intervals throughout its length, the shaft no longer acts as a due for the flames in the event of a fire.

The shutters may be made of divers materials-such, for instance, as sheet-iron-but We prefer making them of wood, covered with asbestus or similar fire-proof cloth, as shutters of this description are lighter and more easily operated than those made of metal.

To open the shaft and aiford a passage for the cage D we provide the levers E E E E, which are located oppositely above and below the shutters B B. These levers are pivoted at one end to the inner edge of the shutters and at the other to the sides of the elevator-shaft, as shown. Slots 0 in the latter end allow them a longitudinal motion and permit them to change from their diagonal direction, as illustrated in the left half of Fig. 1, to the vertical position represented at the right of the same figure, or the reverse, thereby moving the shutters B B either way. The levers E E are engaged alternately and set in operation by rollers d d d d d d secured to one side of the cage D. The rollers d and d are set nearer the center of the cage than the rollers (21 in order to secure a more gradual and better working of the levers and consequently of the shutters. This arrangement, though preferable, is not, however, indispensable; nor is the use of rollers, as stationarypieces or rollers differentlydisposed might answer the same purpose.

It will be noticed that the rollers 01, s represented in ,the drawings, will not push the levers far enough back to open the shutte' completely and provide a clear passage for the cage unless they be set on its extreme edges; but this is unnecessary, as we prefer having the cage itself assist in opening the shutters. Its top and bottom are therefore made sloping and pointed, and they act as Wedges in parting the shutters as the elevator moves up or down. Rollers e e, set in the inner edges of the shutters, prevent too great a friction between them and the cage.

We have another purpose in View in making the top and bottom of the cage pointed stances.

and inclined, and it is to obviate any possibility of an accident should the lovers E E break or the rollers (Z d d from some unforeseen cause fail to work, since thus constructed the cage can open the shutters Without their help. The inclination of the top and bottom of the cage may be varied in kind or degree to suit the different circum- Thus they may be made to assume the shape of a triangle, a cone, a pyramid, or some similar figure, and the angles formed thereby may be made more or less acute or obtuse, as will be deemed best, the essential feature being a pointed and sloping top and bottom. Like the arrangement of the rollers 01 d d", previously described, this construction offers also the advantage of securing a gradualopening and closing of the shutters, and it prevents their jerking apart or slamming together before orafter the passage of the cage.

The shutters are returned across the shaft when displaced by means of weights F F, adapted to slide in tubes G G, which maybe placed at any suitable point in or. outside the elevator-well. The weights are kept up by chains or cords H H, attached to the sides of the shaft and passed over pulleysI I, set in the outer edge of the shutters B B and over pulleys J J, secured to the "tubes G G. Springs might be used for the return of the shutters; but we prefer employing weights, as their action is surer and it is easier to regulate it, so as to insure the perfect working of all the parts. Thus we produce shutters for elevator-shafts which are strictly automatic in their operation and which evi,

dently area valuable; addition to a building, inasmuch. as they do away. with a constant source of danger to life and property.

Weare aware that numerous changes may be resorted to in the construction and arrangement of the above-enumerated parts without departing from the principles of our invention, and we therefore do not confine ourselves to the exact forms herein shown and set forth.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with an elevator-shaft provided upon opposite sides with apertures, of shutters arranged thereacross and adapted to work through the said apertures, oppositely-placed levers pivoted at one end to the inner edge of said shutters and provided at the opposite end with elongated slots, and pivot-pins passing through said slots into the. sides of the elevator-shaft, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of an elevator-shaft provided upon opposite sides with apertures, shutters arranged thereacross and adapted to work through said apertures, oppositelyplaced levers pivoted at one end to the inner edge of said shutters and provided at the opposite end with an elongated slot, pivot-pins passing through said slots into the sides of the elevator-shaft,.an elevator-cage, and rollers on said cage fitted to engage the levers, so as to change the same from an oblique position to a vertical position, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of an elevator-shaft, shutters arranged thereacross, pulleys set in the outer edge thereof, levers adapted to open said shutters, tubes secured to the opposite sides of the elevator well or shaft, pulleys secured to said tubes, and chains or cords passingover the series of pulleys and havingtheir upper end attached to the side of the shaft and their lower end carrying a suit-able weight, the latter adapted to slide in the tubes, sub- ,stantially as set forth.

4. The combination ofan elevator-shaft, shutters arranged. thereacross, oppositelyplaced levers adapted to open said shutters, an elevator-cage, and a series of rollers on said cage disposed at varying'distances from .the center thereof and fitted to engage and operate said levers gradually, substantially as described.

5. The combination of an elevator-shaft, shutters arranged thereacross, oppositelyplaced levers pivoted by one end to the inner edge of said shutters and by the other to the sides of said shaft, an elevator-cage having a pointed and sloping top and bottom, rollers on said cage adapted in connection therewith to open said shutters by engaging and operating said levers, weights fitted to close the same, and tubes for said weights, substantially as described.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and affixed our seals.

HORACE D. RANLETT. [L. s. GUSTAVE PROVOST. [L. s. In presence of THOS. S. HARLOE, R. R. STRAIN. 

